THE WORLD IS ON YOUR SIDE

THE END OF THE OVER-ENGINEERING ERA

Here is part of my artist statement from the Manor of Art show that I just did........

There is part of my process that is intentional.  If I batik a flower or a pattern and make it blue or purple, that is my intention.  The paper that lies underneath that pattern or flower soaks up the dye from the paper above it and creates something abstract and unintentional.  Often, I find the unintentional part is the best part.

This is how I find life to be.  I manifest and create in all different areas of my life with great intention.  It is when I allow for it and stay in the moment that the universe responds with people, places, events and opportunities better than I imagine for myself.  I call that magic.

Something that I have been working on is not over-engineering things and trying to control them, especially as it relates to the creative process.  I want to know where it's going, how much it will cost, what I'll call it, who will buy it, how I'll make more - all before I even start!  I figured out a while ago that this approach to creating was no longer serving me.  I had to start the creative process from a much more organic place.  A spontaneous place where the exact perfect idea comes to me at the exact perfect time, which only happens when you are in the now and not trying to control things.

This has been my creative practice most recently, to create spontaneously and let go of my controlling tendencies. With only a few weeks to prepare for the Manor of Art show I was able to put my practice to the test. This was one of the first times I allowed  myself to create exactly what I wanted to see and make the space feel how I wanted it to feel.  I didn't put expectations on the outcome, or selling anything.  It was successful from the start because I created from an organic place without attaching to any outcome. My practice paid off!

Well.......Back to the artist statement where it says  "It is when I allow for it and stay in the moment that the universe responds with people, places, events and opportunities better than I imagine for myself.  I call that magic."  I didn't sell anything at the show but I did have the perfect person approach me with the perfect opportunity that is absolutely better than anything I had imagined for myself. 

I will share more about what I am working on next as it develops.  Right now I want to share this story with you about how letting go and allowing served me in the most amazing way. My creativity isn't engineered in my head it is in each moment that I allow it. Magic happens.

 

PRONOIA - THE CONSPIRACY

Someone asked me the other day where my closing email salutation came from - THE WORLD IS ON YOUR SIDE.  This closing greeting is also the name of one of my favorite greeting cards that I've designed as well as the title of my blog.

So here is what inspired me to create the phrase THE WORLD IS ON YOUR SIDE .......

Many years ago I was made aware of a word that I had never heard before - PRONOIA - which is kind of like the opposite of paranoia however PRONOIA means that there is a conspiracy of goodness in the world working on your behalf.  I always had a feeling that this was the case and found great validation upon discovering this word.

Imagine an army of angels, light-workers, fairies, magic monkeys or whatever you imagine, working full time, behind the scenes to see that you are comfortable, that interesting opportunities present themselves to you, that a song that you love comes on the radio, that hot water comes out of your faucet everyday, that your credit card payment arrives on time, that your internal organs process the food you eat, that the place you live is safe and peaceful, that your child makes it to the bathroom on time, that millions of little things that you will never know the extent of are occurring at every moment to create this magic earth for you to live on and be the divine person that you are.

That's my kind of conspiracy!

My greeting card titled THE WORLD IS ON YOUR SIDE is my visual expression of that idea. I close my emails with that sentiment because I wish for you to know this and I use it as the title of my blog because it is at the heart of everything I create.

Thanks to my friend who asked me why I close my emails with THE WORLD IS ON YOUR SIDE.  It has inspired me to write this posting and reminded me of how my PRONOIA influences all that I do.

The world is on your side,

Jennifer

This print is available for sale at my etsy store!

PROFOUND MICHAEL

I have always had the feeling that we can change our world through dance and music.....like really change the world!  After watching the world react to Michael Jackson's death I am sure of it because it is happening right now. 

There are profound events that captivate our worlds attention like 9/11 and the tsunami in Thailand on December 26th 2004. These rare events create a global simultaneous awareness and cause us to vibrate together as a planet.  The tsunami evoked a world wide, shared compassion and 9/11 evoked fear.  Michael Jackson's death has people throughout the entire world singing and dancing in the streets and remembering a more innocent time and our child within, all at the same time!!! THE WHOLE WORLD IS DANCING AND SINGING TOGETHER!!!  Collectively this energy is powerful. Think of the energy of the planet after 9/11 and the energy of the planet this past weekend where you heard Michael's music everywhere and we all shared in his magic. Big difference!

Now imagine more and more world wide events that will capture our attention and cause us all to feel united. I suspect there will be more - Iran for instance. The more we connect on a global level, the more barriers break down and space is made for tolerance and peace. The more we love, celebrate and dance together the more we shed light on injustice and intolerance everywhere.

Michael already had a vision of a united planet. He was a sensitive soul that I believe felt the pain of broken families and nations. He can look back at this life as a monumental success as he continues to helps us all heal and embrace each other just as we are.  Congratulations Michael on a job well done, now rest up!

Watch people celebrate Michael around the world.

 

HOW FUN WOULD THIS BE?.......

On my recent visit to Milwaukee, Wisconsin, my town of origin, I went to the Nomad on Brady Street which is a popular bar where my good friend actually met her husband.  In Milwaukee the chances are pretty good that you will meet your future spouse at a bar.  If it weren't for Wolski's I would not have met my sweetie of 17 years! Anyway.......I received some very wise words at the Nomad written in pen on my drink coaster.  These words of wisdom have come to be one of my new mantras.  Here it is folks...........

"HOW FUN WOULD THIS BE.... IF YOU WERE MORE FUN?"

Brilliant!  That was a perfect mantra for me to take on as I started my week of visiting countless relatives and friends. Of course I love seeing everyone, however, it requires stamina and performance that can overwhelm me before I even get there. So on this visit, I took responsibility for my own fun and I found that I had plenty of energy and enthusiasm to go around.

So the next time you are feeling overwhelmed ask yourself - how fun would this be if you were more fun?

   

Here is my sister Sarah, my grandma and me.  My grandma is 89 and she knows how to have fun! She's quite the pool shark!

GANDHI DREAM

I recently watched the movie GANDHI with Ben Kingsley. GANDHI won 8 academy awards including Best Picture and Ben Kingsley for Best Actor. It is one of those movies that I intended to watch and finally had the opportunity to when it was on cable Easter Sunday and I could make the 3 hour and 15 minute commitment to it. It really is a long movie but I thoroughly enjoyed it and found myself inspired by MAHATMA GANDHI'S strength and integrity.

One of my personal mantras is from GANDHI: 

"I will not let anyone walk through my mind with their dirty feet."

-Mahatma Gandhi

You can read more about how I apply that belief to violent entertainment in my posting on Armadillo.

Anyway.........the night after watching GANDHI, he came to me in my dream with a message.  I've hesitated about posting it on my blog until now because I was thinking - do I really want to start blogging about my dreams? My dream world is quite active and I have been writing down my dreams for many years.  Dreams are one of the ways that spirit communicates with me and I could go on and on about them so don't get me started. I will share this one because it felt quite meaningful to receive this message and it is really sticking with me......

He told me not to sweat the details and the small stuff.  He said to live in the moment because that is how you allow the space for things better than you can imagine to happen.  

I love that.

That is my life long practice.  I love the idea of the universe matching me up with things wilder and better than I could have imagined for myself.  If I'm cluttered with expectations, a busy mind, trying to please others, guilt, etc.........I'm not making space for the really great stuff into my life.  Allowing....... Being....... Finding joy. That is how we let the magic in.

Well, that's my GANDHI dream.  I hope it is the little gem you needed to hear today like it was for me and will continue to be.

EVERY DAY IS EARTH DAY!

One of my favorite places to connect with mother earth is Mt. Adams in Washington.  Here you see the mountain reflected in Trout Lake. The pacific northwest is spectacular and I am grateful to live here.

Below you'll see the mountain on fire last year.  The fire was about 11 miles from where we camp.  

  

She's a beauty.

   

Everyday is EARTH DAY.

 

BACK FROM SOUTH CAROLINA!

               

         

             

            

               

    

Here is what I have to report from my vacation.  I love this planet! I love sunshine and animals too.  I am overwhelmed with joy when I am sitting on the beach being warmed by the sun with hawks, eagles, and sea birds flying over me while I keep lookout for dolphins. That is my joy.

You can click on the smaller pics above for larger images.

EXPECT MAGIC - ONE MORE THING.................

I introduced you to my newly released greeting card EXPECT MAGIC a couple of weeks ago. I explained how the bird on the lifeboat was my self portrait of me as a bird and the story of how I got to be floating through space on my lifeboat. 

I also wanted to share with you my broader intention for that card.  Clearly we are in a storm right now.  That is how I am looking at it - a storm.  Storms pass.  When this storm is over I believe that this planet is going to be a better place. I believe that we will be a more fair, just and joyful people. I believe that this is an abundant planet and there is enough for everyone. I believe in magic and miracles.  I believe there are forces at work on our behalf and that the world in on our side.

If you are paying attention we have recently experienced some miracles.  Our new President is evidence that our collective intention of peace and justice wields great power. That's magic my friends. If we can accomplish that - what's next?  I also consider the plane that crashed into the Hudson River with no casualties a miracle.  We all called it a miracle!  A MIRACLE - that's incredible! 

In President Obama's inaugural speech he said "What the cynics fail to understand is that the ground has shifted beneath them —" That line really struck a chord with me.  The ground has shifted and there are many aspects to that shift  - political, spiritual, ecological .........I think we all feel it.

What we can do now is to embrace this shift, learn how to allow joy, magic and miracles into our lives.  It is an amazing time to be a human on planet earth.  Lets not forget to find our joy during this storm.  In fact I believe that finding our joy will bring the storm closer to an end.

So you can send this greeting card with above stated intention  -or- it is makes a great card for an expectant mother, graduation, anniversary, birthday, etc..............................Either way lets all firmly plant our feet onto the recently shifted ground, embrace our responsibilities and our joys and EXPECT MAGIC!

As always, your comments are welcome and encouraged.  Blogs are meant to be interactive and stimulate ideas.  Agree - disagree.  Its all good!

NEW BEGINNINGS - INAUGURATION DAY!

As I watch the inaugural events unfold today, I see the macro aspects of FROG at work.  It was profound to watch the Obamas literally escort the Bushes out of Washington today.  Talk about new beginnings and a fresh perspective.  Of course we picked FROG this week!!

 

Here are some pictures my friend Kimberly Wilson took at the inauguration today!

CYNTHIA'S 103rd BIRDTHDAY PARTY!

My dear friend Cynthia was born on January 8th 1906.  On January 8th 2009 we celebrated her 103rd birthday at Portland City Grill with my husband Adam and friends.  Cynthia looked so beautiful, and she knew it!  She was flirting with waiters and gentlemen in the elevator. Everyone was drawn to her and lit up when they heard how old she is.  Cynthia's sense of humor and wonder are an inspiration to anyone that is fortunate enough to know her!